Riders of all skill levels take on 2.4-mile road course at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course

LEXINGTON, Ohio — Kevin McIntosh of Germantown, Wis., was one of dozens of competitors in the road racing events during the weekend at 2018 AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days, featuring Royal Enfield at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course.

He has been racing vintage motorcycles for three years and said attending AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days was on his bucket list.

“On a scale of one to 10, this event is an 11,” he said. “It has a little of everything for anyone who is into motorcycles. There are lots of types of racing here.”

A graphic designer and photographer by trade, McIntosh was racing a 1971 Honda CL450 at the event, as well as selling some of his motorcycle photography.

Two other road racers who were having a great time at AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days were Jared Trees and his partner, Heather Szymanik, of Marengo, Ohio. It was Szymanik’s first time racing at AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days, while Trees had raced at the event previously. The couple were racing Yamaha YZF-R3s, and each finished the weekend on the podium.

A true motorsports couple, the two met at a mini moto event in Georgia.

The road racing at 2018 AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days was very competitive and attracted some fast riders. C.J. LaRoche of Bellaire, Ohio, has been racing at the event for three years and has been a regular on the MotoAmerica grid in past seasons.

“The competition here is really good,” LaRoche said. “Guys from lots of states are here. It’s not just local guys.”

LaRoche took time during the weekend to pass along his knowledge from racing professionally to some of the amateur competitors he was competing against.

“I had a lot of guys helping me out as I was coming up the ranks,” he said. “It’s cool to be able to try and give back a little bit.

“I think this is my favorite racing weekend of the year,” he continued. “AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days is an awesome event and draws a great crowd. It’s fun to race here because there are so many people here. It’s fun getting to see the old bikes and all the different kinds of racing here. It’s like a big motorcycle party, and it’s a lot of fun.”